Ceramics and glass business news of the week

Glasstec 2012, the international trade fair for glass production, processing and products and Solarpeq, the international trade fair for solar production equipment, will be held concurrently in Düsseldorf, Germany from Oct. 23 – 26, 2012. Glasstec is the an international trade fair representing the entire value-added process for all facets of the material glass, attracting the mechanical engineering sector, the glass industry and the glazier trade as well as architects, facade planers and civil engineers. Solarpeq, on the other hand, focuses on solar production technology for crystalline and thin-film photovoltaics. This includes manufacturers of machinery, systems and related components as well as materials for the production of solar end products. Exhibit categories at glasstec 2012 will include glass manufacturing/production technology, glass processing and finishing, tools, replacement and spare parts, process control technology for glass and glass-processing machinery as well as glass applications in the construction and façade sector, solar energy and transparent thermal insulation and display glass and laser technologies.

Surmet Corp. of Burlington, Mass., now in its 30th year of successful operations, announces the expansion of its aluminum nitride manufacturing operations in Buffalo, N.Y. This strategic move is in response to the significant growth in global demand for thermal management packaging in the green-tech device industry. Surmet is now one of only a handful of companies worldwide that has the capacity to synthesize high-quality AlN powder in tonnage quantities. Multiple grades including surface modified powders for epoxy filler applications are also available. AlN is eight- to 10-times more thermally conductive than alumina, and its conductivity will not deteriorate with rising temperatures. With a relatively low thermal expansion coefficient, AlN structures meet thermomechanical requirements for many electronic and device components, such as LEDs.

3M today announced the availability of an experimental product, Micro Milling Media ZGC, an ultra-low-cost alternative to yttria-stabilized zirconia beads used in high energy mills. The offering can meet the needs for performance-driven, economical nanoparticle dispersions, and help reduce cost and investment in process equipment for those needing to obtain very fine particle sizes. The new high-density (5.8 g/cc) grinding media is as strong and as wear resistant as YSZ beads. Due to its nanocrystalline microstructure (50 – 100 nm) these micro beads feature low friction smooth surfaces and excellent sphericity.

Sept. 23, 2011, marks the 150th birthday of Robert Bosch. “I would rather lose money than trust” is one of his best known sayings. Values such as credibility, reliability, and legality formed the basis of his entrepreneurial action – and have lost none of their validity for the company he founded. They are the compass for the Bosch Group’s innovative strength, quality standards, international orientation, and corporate social responsibility. In combination with these, they form the basis for ensuring the company’s lasting business success, as well as its ability to meet the challenges of the future, just as Robert Bosch would have wanted. Apart from the 150th anniversary of the birth of its founder, Robert Bosch GmbH is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year.

At ISAL in Darmstadt (Sept. 26-28, 2011) Osram Opto Semiconductors will be showcasing two new LED prototypes for headlights in the shape of the Oslon Black Flat and the Osram Ostar Headlamp Pro. Both combine new chip and package technologies and are equipped with a ceramic converter. Their strengths include high light output even at high currents, a uniform light pattern, thermal stability and a particularly good contrast ratio.